Emerging Regions

Grapes grow well beyond the three appellations - Norfolk, Georgian Bay, Huron Shores and the Ottawa Valley. These wines carry the VQA Ontario designation rather than an appellation name.

Map of wineries in Emerging RegionsOpen the map

Grapes grow well beyond Ontario's three appellations — in Norfolk County, around Georgian Bay, along the Huron shoreline and out through the Ottawa Valley. These are VQA Ontario's four named emerging regions, and the wines carry the VQA Ontario designation rather than an appellation name.

That is a labelling distinction, not a quality one. Much of the interesting cold-hardy and hybrid work in the province is happening in these places, often at small estates a long way from the tour buses.